Neither the coastal village panchayats nor the tourism department is equipped to safely dispose of the garbage collected by sweepers.

Esperance Fernandes believes that the move by the village panchayat would help minimise the filth on the beach as well as set an example for other coastal village panchayats.

“We will be employing labourers on the beach to help picnickers and beach-goers collect the garbage they generate and pack it in plastic bags. The garbage collection can be taken care of, but the disposal will have to be carried out by those who visit the beach,” Esperance said.

The resolution was passed by an overwhelming majority.

Betalbatim village, with a resident population of nearly 4,000, is one of the quieter beaches in Goa although it is home to some of the top beach resorts as well as what some consider the mecca of Goan crab curry, Martins Corner. Star cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is a regular visitor here.

Garbage is one of the most contentious issues facing the tourism department along with overcrowding of its beaches.

Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said the litter on the beaches prompted his department to go in for a mechanised beach cleaning option.

“By December, when the biggest number of tourists starts to come in, we should be in a position to clean beaches with machines,” Parulekar said.

Goa’s beaches annually attract nearly 2.6 million tourists, of which half a million are foreigners.—IANS